More than 160 arrested including EDL leader Tommy Robinson during clashes at east London march

More than 160 people were arrested as clashes broke out in east London during rival protests by hundreds of English Defence League supporters and thousands of counter-demonstrators.

EDL leader Tommy Robinson was among those arrested during the controversial march by the far-right group that was prevented from going through the centre of one of the country's biggest Muslim communities.

The Metropolitan Police allowed the protest but under strict conditions which meant any march would be held at the outskirts of Tower Hamlets and close to Tower Bridge.

A counter demonstration was held by anti-facist and anti-racist groups who were among those arrested.

Offences ranged from possession of a pointed blade, possession of a firework, breach of public order, criminal damage and violent disorder.

They are all being held at police stations in east and central London.

Among those in custody is a 15-year-old boy who was arrested for going equipped, Scotland Yard said. He has been taken to an east London police station where he currently remains.

Police had ruled the march could only take place between midday and 3pm and its route should include Queen Elizabeth Street , Tower Bridge Road, Tower Bridge Approach, The Minories and then into Aldgate High Street. Organisers were told they must not to go beyond the junction with Mansell Street.

Scotland Yard said senior officers had decided to stop the march a third of a mile short of its intended destination in the hope of preventing "serious" disorder.

Police lawyers had told the High Court that between 1,000 and 2,000 people would take part in the EDL march and "several thousand" in counter demonstrations by groups including Unite Against Fascism.

There was a heavy uniformed police presence lining the streets at the East London Mosque & London Muslim Centre (ELM) in Aldgate East.

Muslim leaders and politicians in London's East End said they are "fed up" but "united" as they led a protest to counter the EDL march.

By lunchtime thousands of people had gathered at the Altab Ali Park, a stone's throw from the ELM.

Messages in the mosque relayed after prayers said the numbers of Muslims at the park "were in small numbers" as many people had decided not to come out.

It assured them that it was a safe and peaceful rally watched by a large number of police and that they would be welcome to show that "we cannot live with hatred".

Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman and John Biggs, a local Labour London Assembly member, were among the campaigners who listened to speeches at the Altab Ali park which is named after an Asian garment worker who was killed in a race attack in May 1978.

Mr Rahman admitted that he was "very fed up " with having to deal with these demonstrations saying: "We just want to get on with our normal lives."

He said: "We are celebrating peace and tranquillity. We are not espousing violence. The people who want to talk about violence and inflict violence and hate on others can just go back to their nests and their holes.

"We are a united community and we are a diverse community. Young people are not coming out today because they are frightened."

The EDL had shown "misfounded courage because they are not welcome," he claimed, adding that expressing extreme views "unsettles the community, propagates fear and insecurity and hatred - we cannot accept that extreme minority view".

Mr Biggs claimed it was "atrocious" that the march had not been banned and urged people to "stand up against racism".

He said: "Tower Hamlets is a vibrant and diverse borough which I am proud to call home. Like many other areas of our country, there are problems such as unemployment and poverty but the EDL blame "others" for our country's problems in an attempt to divide us".

Ahead of the march, a message on the EDL website declared: "We're returning to Tower Hamlets!